One of the best films I've ever seen.

It's only this year that I decided I needed to finally get around to watching the Karate Kid movies (up until now, I'd only seen the 2010 version).

I thought part one was good but not outstanding. A lot of it was typical 80s family-friendly action; kid gets bullied, wise old man teaches him to get his own back. I think a lot of its popularity may be because people think there's something funny in the corny 80s-ness of it (the montage, "You're the best", the crane kick, wax-on wax-off, etc). I liked all that stuff but they seem to be liking it ironically.

The Karate Kid, Part II may be one of my favourite movies of all time. I love almost everything about it. It's such a great, logical progression from part one. Daniel is more mature, wiser and braver and the scene with him comforting Mr Miyagi on the beach almost brought me to tears. Pat Morita is such a good actor. The bad guys are more dangerous, which is exactly what you want for a sequel, and much more interesting than the school bullies in the first one. The romance stories are much better too (and I like to ignore part three and pretend Kimiko and Yukie came back to America with Daniel and Mr Miyagi). It's not just a family-friendly 80s movie anymore, it's actually a really good martial arts film in its own right. I think one of the reasons I love it was because Daniel was living the life I would love to be able to have. Especially as a teenager.

As for Part III, I didn't think it was bad but I can't call it good either. I'd have been sad if it hadn't been made. Both Daniel and Miyagi came across as kind of dumb and mean-spirited. If Part II showed Daniel living the kind of life I'd want to have, Part III showed him living the kind of life I would hate to have. He didn't go to college, he separated with his awesome girlfriend and I'll be amazed if that Bonsai tree business survived. Plus, was anyone convinced that he could be beaten up by Terry Silver's teenage henchmen thugs (and don't get me started on that) after taking down Chozen in Part II? It was a bit too much like a TV movie.

I still have The Next Karate Kid to watch.

Edit: Oh yeah, I do find it funny that Miyagi is a great believer in child labour.

Part 1: "Wax my cars! Paint my fence!"
Part 2: "Build me a guest house!"
Part 3: "How's my indoor swimming pool coming along, Daniel-san?"

... The third one didn't actually happen. But it wouldn't have surprise me.

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"Show me a milkman in high heels and I'll show you a dairy queen."